James Lake is an earth dam located in Albany County, Wyoming, built in 1908. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 40 ft40 ft tall and 770 ft long, taller than 86% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About James Lake
The primary purpose of James Lake is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by James Lake Irrigation District (private). It impounds the Seven Mile Cr, Lit. Laramie R. near Bosler.
The dam stands 40 feet tall and stretches 770 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,393 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 41,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 28 square miles. Completed in 1908, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 08/28/2024.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Wyoming |
| County | Albany |
| Nearest City | Bosler |
| River/Stream | Seven Mile Cr, Lit. Laramie R. |
| Coordinates | 41.48000, -105.88778 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Length | 770 ft |
| Year Completed | 1908 (118 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 41,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 41,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,990 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,393 acres |
| Drainage Area | 28 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | James Lake Irrigation District |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/28/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | WY01714 |
| Federal ID | WY01714 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |